Council to Vote Again on Removal of 2 Officials
The City Council is scheduled to vote again on last week’s removal of the city’s attorney and manager at a special meeting this morning at 7:30, after concerns that the first vote to remove the officials was in violation of the state’s open meetings law.
At a special meeting Aug. 12, the council voted 3 to 1 to place City Manager Faustin Gonzales on paid leave and to terminate its contract with City Atty. H. Francisco Leal.
The agenda for last week’s meeting failed to mention that the council would discuss the positions of the two officials. The agenda for this morning’s meeting says the council will consider “ratification” of last week’s actions.
At a regular council meeting Tuesday, Leal presented a letter calling last week’s decisions “unlawful” and a violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act, the law that lays down rules for open government meetings in California.
Lealsaid before the meeting that the council could rectify the violation by voting again on the matter within 30 days after giving public notice.
Mayor Armando Rea asked the council to reinstate the officials, but there was no further discussion of his proposal.
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